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There have been more than 90 incidents of attacks on Christians in Sri Lanka in 2017 alone said the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), noting a rise in the number of assaults.

NCEASL general secretary Godfrey Yogarajah told Christianity Today that there have been hundreds of attacks on Christians since the government of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena came in to power, adding that the number of incidents rises in the run up to Christmas.

“After the new government came in 2015, we thought incidents will decrease. But to our surprise, they increased,” he said. “Since 2015, we have had around 275 incidents against Christians. So far this year, we have documented up to 90-plus incidents.”

“During Christmas, we find a rise in incidents against Christians, and are monitoring this with concern,” he added.

He went on to state that little action has been taken to hold perpetrators to account. “If we speak out, we are being intimidated, while the extremists continue to function with impunity,” he said. “Very rarely any action is taken against them.”